A Prayer of Hope and Eager Expectation
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By Scotty Smith About Prayer
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Rom. 8:18-21
Dear heavenly Father, we praise you for the living hope of the gospel—your irrevocable commitment to put all things right and make all things new; your irreversible promise to make everything sad untrue, everything broken as though it never was, everything lost perpetually found. Our hearts are filled with eager expectation for that Day. We bless you for your faithfulness to bring to completion the good work you’ve begun in us and in your world.
As your children, we long to be finally and fully whole. No more knowing in part. No more worshipping you in part. No more loving others in part. Present sufferings will give way to eternal blessings; the grace of the gospel for us, will be the glory of the gospel in us. How long, O LORD, how long?
As your church, we long to be finally and fully one. No more petty divisions or senseless distractions. One up-man-ship will give way to one down-man-ship. No more biting and devouring one another, only blessing and serving one another. The triumph of the Lamb will replace the tribalism of our flesh. How long, O LORD, how long?
For your creation, we long to see the Day when rivers will clap their hands, the mountains will sing with joy (Ps. 98:8) and the hills will leap like lambs (Ps. 114:4). We eagerly await the Day when the wolf will live with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the goat; when they will neither harm nor destroy on all your holy mountain. For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of your glory, as the waters cover the sea. (Isa. 11:6,9). How long, O LORD, how long?
Father, it’s only because of what you’ve done for us in Jesus, that we dare to believe all frustration will give way to great liberation, and the ugly of decay will be replaced with the beauty of your delights. Hasten that Day, LORD, hasten it! So very Amen we pray, in your great and grace-full name.
